I'm writing today to urge you to pass the Labor Commission's proposal to raise the minimum wage and tie it to the cost of living.
People who work hard and play by the rules deserve dignity and security. The Labor Commission’s proposal calls for:
- An immediate increase in the city’s minimum wage to $10.74 with a higher rate for corporations.
- Annual Cost of Living Adjustments
- A phased-in health insurance credit starting in 2015
- A gradual increase so that Berkeley’s minimum wage becomes Berkeley’s Living Wage
San Francisco and San Jose have already shown that raising the minimum wage benefits everyone without hurting small and local businesses.
There are now numerous proposals floating at the state and local level to raise the minimum to over $12.00 including in Oakland and Richmond. So the Labor Commission's proposal is the right move for Berkeley - it helps workers, protects our small business community, and benefits the community as a whole.
I urge you to do the right thing—vote yes to pass the Labor Commission's proposal on the minimum wage. Thank you for representing my voice.
Why is this important?
Inspired by the recent Win-Win-Win of the student-driven and community-led minimum wage campaign in San Jose, we students in the East Bay are organizing to do the same here in the East Bay.
Only 3 other cities in the entire United States have minimum wages at $10 or more. Let’s add the entire East Bay to that list: Oakland! Berkeley! Alameda! Richmond, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, San Leandro, El Cerrito, Albany, San Pablo, Newark, Piedmont even… It’s time for a living wage, East Bay!
